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George Washington Carver National Monument

Austin W. Curtis, Jr.

Dr. Austin Curtis, right

“He seems to me more like a son than a person who

has just come to work for me.”

— George Washington Carver

Austin W. Curtis graduated from Cornell University with a degree in

chemistry. In 1935, he was offered a job as Carver’s assistant. When

George Washington Carver was getting older and his health was

not as good as it used to be, Mr. Curtis worked in Carver’s lab. He

did many routine duties, but he also did his own research. For eight

years, he helped Carver with some of his research and writing and

also accompanied him when traveling.

Carver grew to rely on this young man. Curtis even started calling

himself “Baby Carver!”

Austin Curtis was greatly influenced by his years spent working

with George Washington Carver. One thing he learned was that

whatever work or task needed to be done, he should do it to the

best of his ability. Mr. Curtis remembered that Carver always wore a

flower or a piece of evergreen in his lapel, depending on the season

of the year. He might choose to wear berries or a twig, but if flowers

were available, that is what he chose.

Mr. Curtis was impressed by Carver’s motivation to help people. He

called George Washington Carver “a true humanitarian” because he

tried to help other people overcome their problems. When Carver

died in 1943, Austin Curtis helped establish the George Washington

Carver Research Foundation and the Carver Museum at Tuskegee

Institute.

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Austin W. Curtis, Jr.

George Washington Carver National Monument

Curtis stayed at Tuskegee until 1944, even after Carver’s death.

He became Director of Agriculture, the same position George

Washington Carver held.

Then he moved to Detroit, Michigan and opened his own business,

the A. W. Curtis Laboratories. He carried on with the work of

creating products from peanuts and sweet potatoes. He also

continued working on dehydrating fruits and vegetables. He

researched how to make inexpensive paints. He once prepared a

banquet made completely with peanuts: soup, chicken, ice cream,

and coffee, just like George Washington Carver had. He started the

business to help provide job opportunities for African Americans

and he carried on the humanitarian work, just like George

Washington Carver.

Carver and Curtis in Science Lab,

Tuskegee Institute, AL

GLOSSARY

Dehydrating – A way of preserving food by removing some of the water.

Time Line • The Tuskegee Years: 1896 –1943

1896 Booker T. Washington invites Carver to teach at Tuskegee Institute. He remains at the school for the rest of his life.

1915 Robert Moton appointed the head of Tuskegee Institute

1919 Moton gives Carver raise in pay

1935 Austin Curtis arrives at Tuskegee to assist Carver